Cutter drive motor support on arm pivot

ABSTRACT

A cutting apparatus primarily for use in mining work and having an arm pivotably supported in a base housing for swinging upwardly and downwardly. The arm has cutting devices supported for rotation on a shaft at its free end and this shaft is coupled with a chain disposed within the arm to a further shaft at the lower end of the arm. The further shaft is connected to the output shaft of a drive motor and the axes of the shafts are aligned with the axis of pivoting of the arm. The drive motor has its own housing supported on an outer ring. This outer ring is in turn mounted for rotation on an inner ring accommodated in a side wall of the base housing. This inner ring is, in turn, connected to the arm. A projection of the housing of the motor engages a stop member to prevent rotation of the housing itself relative to the base housing and apart from this there is no contact between the motor and the base housing.

Haller et al.

[ CUTTER DRIVE MOTOR SUPPORT ON ARM PIVOT [75] Inventors: Herbert Haller,

Gelsenkirchen-Buer; Werner Mennekes, Weidenkamp, both of Germany {73] Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia,

Westfalia, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] Appi. No.: 312,527

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 7, 1971 Germany 2160644 [52] U.S. Cl. 299/76, 299/89 [51] Int. Cl. E2lc 27/24 [58] Field of Search 299/64, 77, 72, 75, 76, 299/89 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS' l,6l4,l82 l/l927 Brackett 299/72 2.595.398 5/1952 Lewis 299/64 [451 Mar 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney, Agent,'0r Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion,

Zinn & Macpeak 5 7 ABSTRACT A cutting apparatus primarily for use in mining work and having an arm pivotably supported in a base housing for swinging upwardly and downwardly. The arm has cutting devices supported for rotation on a shaft at its free end and this shaft is coupled with a chain disposed within the arm to a further shaft at the lower end of the arm. The further shaft is connected to the "arm. A projection of the housing of the motor engages a stop member to prevent rotation of the housing itself relative to the base housing and apart from this there is no contact between the motor and the base housing 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 19 I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTED MAR 1 9 I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 mwwym &

CUTTER DRIVE MOTOR SUPPORT ON ARM PIVOT BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus particularly, but not solely, for use in mining work.

In mining operations, such as in drifting and similar operations, cutting apparatuses or machines are known which are equipped with a cutting head or the like mounted at the end of a pivotable arm. Machines of similar construction are also used for driving roadways or tunnels in relatively loose material such as soil, the roadwayor tunnel being supported by tubular sections arranged end to end as the progress of driving the tunnel proceeds.

In these known forms of machine the arm is pivotably supported by a base housing and a drive motor for rotating the cutting head is rigidly connected to thebase housing. The forces acting on the cutting head are transmitted via the pivot arm to the actual mounting system of the latter and consequently breakdowns or faults continually occur owing to the fact that the pivot bearings for the arm suffer considerable wear. This wear is aggravated by the fact that it is'almost impossi ble to seal off the pivot bearings completely and, especially in mine work, foreign matter finds its way in between the bearing surfaces. Usually the output shaft of the motor is coupled to a drive shaft mounted at the lower end of the pivot arm; these shafts being coaxial with the pivotal axis of the arm. Excessive wear of the pivot bearings for the arm can thus cause relative displacement between the axes of the drive shaft and the output shaft of the motor and damage can result.

In view of the foregoing even a slight degree of wear of the pivot bearings necessitates the tedious operation of renewing these bearings with attendant difficulties especially in cramped mine workings.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatusv SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a base housing, an arm supported for pivoting relative to said base housing, the arm being provided with at least one cutting device or the like, a drive motor for operating said cutting device, bearing means operably disposed between the housing of said motor and the arm and rotary stop means for inhibiting relative rotary movement between the housing of the motor and said base housing.

In contrast to the known forms of apparatus the housing of the motor is no longer connected to the base housing and by this simple measure the pivot bearings between the arm and the base housing can undergo considerable wear without adversely affecting the operation of the apparatus.

The arm may be pivotably supported by bushings provided in bores in side members of the base housing.

motor and its output shaft would be correspondingly displaced in respect of the bores in the side members of the base housing to maintain the status quo.

The output shaft of the drive motor is preferably connected via a coupling such as a plug-type, a claw-type or a gear-type coupling with the aforesaid shaft accommodated by the lower end of the arm. This shaft is preferably connected with a chain to a further shaft provided at the face end of the arm and extending transversally thereof the further shaft carrying a'cutting device at each of its ends and the chain being disposed within said arm.

Preferably a degree of clearance is provided between the bearing means and the base housing to prevent contact between the housing of the motor and the base housing other than through the rotary stop means.

The bearing means may conveniently take the form of an outer ring secured to the housing of the motor, an inner ring connected to the arm and bearings disposed between said rings. I r

The invention may be understood more readily and various other features of the invention may become more apparent from consideration of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be. described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional side view of part of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the apparatus has a housing 10 serving as a base. The base housing 10 may, for example, be mounted on a chassis carried by wheels or endless tracks or guided along tracks.

. Alternatively the housing 10 may be mounted for sliding or on wheels on a conveyor installed alongside a mineral face. The actual mounting of the base housing 10 is not strictly relevant to 'the invention. The housing 10 pivotably supports an arm 11 which has a tubular member 12 at its free end extending transversally to the longitudinal axis of the arm 11. A shaft is rotatably supported in the member 12 and carries cutting devices 13 at its ends. A piston and cylinder unit 27 is mounted between the housing 10 and the member 12 and serves to swing the arm 11 in a vertical plane about its pivotal axis.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the housing 10 has side members provided with bores 14. Each bore 14 is lined with bushings l5 and receives a transverse part rigidly secured to or integral with the arm 11. The bushings 15 thus serve as bearings for pivotably supporting the arm 1 1. A shaft 18 is rotatably supported by means of roller bearings 17 within the lower end of the arm 11. The bearings 17 are located between enlarged end parts of the shaft 18 and the transverse parts of the arm 11. This shaft 18 has teeth (not shown) provided over its central region which engage with a chain extending within the arm 1 1 and engaging similar teeth on the shaft carrying the cutting devices 13. By this arrangement the devices 13 can be rotated by means of the shaft 18.

A drive motor 19, more preferably a hydraulic motor. serves to drive the shaft 18 and hence the cutting device 13. Bearing means 30 for the motor 19 is provided at the outer side of the side member of the housing adjacent the motor 19. This bearing means 30 is composed of an inner ring 21, an outer ring 20 and bearings. preferably roller bearings. disposed between the rings 20, 21. The ring 21 is affixed to the transverse part of the arm 11 with the aid of ajoining piece 29. A certain amount of radial and axial clearance is provided between the bearing means 30 and the side member of the housing 10 to ensure that the bearing means 30 does not contact the housing 10 even with excessive wear of the bushings 15.

The motor 19 has an output shaft 22 which projects into the side member of the housing 10. The shaft 22 is rotatably coupled to the shaft 18 via a coupling element 23 which may, for example, be a claw-type coupling or a gear-type coupling.

The housing of the motor 19 is provided with rotary stop means in the form of a projection 25 which has a face 26 engageable with a stop member formed on the side member of the housing 10. There is a certain amount of axial clearance 31 between the projection 25 and the side member of the housing 10 thus ensuring that the only contact between the housing of the motor 19 and the housing 10 is via the rotary stop means. In alternative forms of rotary stop means, the housing of the motor 19 or the main housing 10 may, for example, have a lateral projection which engages in a recess provided in the main housing 10 or the housing of the motor 19, respectively.

Since the housing of the motor 19 is not rigidly secured to the housing 10 as hitherto but is instead supported by the bearing means 30, coaxiality between the shafts 22, 18 can be maintained despite wear of the bushings 15. Thus as the position of the shaft 18 varies in accordance with the wear of the bushings 15 the bearing will ensure that the shaft 22 is also adjusted accordingly.

We claim:

1. In a cutting apparatus comprising a base housing, an arm. means for supporting said arm, for pivoting relative to said base housing, at least one cutting device carried by the arm and a drive motor for operating said device; the improvement comprising bearing means operably disposed between the housing of said motor and the arm and rotary stop means for inhibiting relative rotary movement between the housing of the motor and said base housing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm is pivotably supported by bushings provided in bores in side members of the base housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower end of said arm accommodates a rotatable shaft which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor; the arm has transverse parts extending into the side'members and contacting said bushings and said shaft is supported within the transverse parts by means of roller bearings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of said arm accommodates a rotatable shaft which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the shaft is drivably connected with a chain to a further shaft provided at the face end of the arm and extending transversally thereof the further shaft carrying a cutting device at each of its ends and the chain being disposed within said arm.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means is composed of an outer ring secured to the housing of the motor. an inner ring connected to the arm and bearings disposed between said rings.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary stop means is formed by a projection and a corresponding stop member provided on the base and motor housings.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base and motor housings have an interengaging projection and recess constituting said rotary stop means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a piston and cylinder unit is connected between the base housing and the arm and serves to effect pivoting of the latter. 

1. In a cutting apparatus comprising a base housing, an arm, means for supporting said arm, for pivoting relative to said base housing, at least one cutting device carried by the arm and a drive motor for operating said device; the improvement comprising bearing means operably disposed between the housing of said motor and the arm and rotary stop means for inhibiting relative rotary movement between the housing of the motor and said base housing.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm is pivotably supported by bushings provided in bores in side members of the base housing.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower end of said arm accommodates a rotatable shaft which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor; the arm has transverse parts extending into the side members and contacting said bushings and said shaft is supported within the transverse parts by means of roller bearings.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of said arm accommodates a rotatable shaft which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the shaft is drivably connected with a chain to a further shaft provided at the face end of the arm and extending transversally thereof the further shaft carrying a cutting device at each of its ends and the chain being disposed within said arm.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means is composed of an outer ring secured to the housing of the motor, an inner ring connected to the arm and bearings disposed between said rings.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary stop means is formed by a projection and a corresponding stop member provided on the base and motor housings.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base and motor housings have an interengaging projection and recess constituting said rotary stop means.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a piston and cylinder unit is connected between the base housing and the arm and serves to effect pivoting of the latter. 